The Private Life of a Cat

The Private Life of a Cat

7.88
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Ratings: 7.88/10 from 67 users.

A male cat courts a female cat and they raise a family together. We see the kittens being born and nurtured by mother, while an interested and proud dad lends his support.

Beautifully photographed and executed. With subtitles, no dialog, and a refreshing absence of human beings on screen.

Very touchingly realized by Alexander Hammid, whose collaborations with Maya Deren I had prior acquaintance with, and also highly recommend.

Directed by: Alexander Hammid

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44   Comments / Reviews

Leave a Reply to Miss Kristen Cancel reply

  1. Great film, simple and absorbing till the end.

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  2. The film is from 1944....I thoroughly enjoyed the little film. I think that cats and kittens are so much fun. I have a 5 yo Turkish Angora male he is an orange tabby and I have an 18mo old female DSH she too is an orange tabby...great companions...

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  3. Sadly, too often these situations don't end well and divorce is frequently an option taken too soon.

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  4. Yes, this short film will do in times of cat shortages.

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  5. cats get kittens up to 2 times in one year . so be-careful . for to many cats running around in or out of your house .

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  6. this was just beautiful <3

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  7. yea well the vets seems not to complaint.the little kittens seems healthy,the mother left it somewhere we felt wasn't hundred per cent safe

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  8. we took a cat from his mum at five days i wonder if we are wrong for that

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  9. how old is this film..all these little kittens are dead now..hope they had a happy life...

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  10. Lovely video, but as others have said. Spay and neuter.

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  11. That was a cute little film.

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  12. I adore this. Beautiful, wonderful :)

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  13. I'm sure the male & female (Mom & Dad) here were probably brought together as kittens and never fixed - allowed to breed. Adult domestic cats are pretty much not this way with each other unless they are brought together as kittens or were litter mates. What an AWESOME film!! God is sooo brilliant and cats are so the most amazing little creatures!

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  14. i m so lucky i've seen this all live! however kittens' dad was never there or he was aggressive...

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  15. Cutest box of chips I've ever seen! I noticed that their eyes were opening at 2 weeks. Also, at this time, their neck muscles were not strong enough to support their large heads, this is also typical.
    As a foster parent of many pregnant and nursing cats, and some orphans, I've noticed that any other cat that is on good terms with the mother (if there is one) will be interested in the birth of the kittens as well as their development. They groom and play with the kittens. You still have to keep a very close eye on them, just in case.
    I know some people want to show their children the 'miracle of life' and so do not spay their cats promptly. I think this is utterly cruel, as chances homes will not be found for all, and homes that are found will displace adoptions by shelters (which as of 2011 are still killing millions of cats per year). So, as a previous poster said, please spay and neuter! Help someone who can't afford the fee if you can, or drive someone who needs a ride to the clinic and back. It really makes a big difference. Nowadays, the better (in my opinion) veterinarians will do pediatric spay/neuters as early as 8 weeks and 1 Kg (sometimes a bit younger even). This should be done before adopting out any kittens to ensure that there won't be any multiplication of the family; there are too many kittens killed at shelters, as well as their older selves. But we can do something to prevent many deaths, and spay/neuter programs are tops.

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  16. This is so beautiful! Cats are wonderful creatures.

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  17. i know i will enjoy this film

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  18. I really enjoyed watching this short film... It is incredible how powerful a film can be when the music and distractions are not included, thank you for sharing..

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  19. They're such squirmy little things <3 I just wanna snuggle them

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  20. So sweet (!) but as usual, the attentive and wonderful meowmy does 99% of the work while, after the initial act, tom-dad pretty much just stands by as the bemused spectator at best. This also makes me sad as I see the hardship and suffering that animals go through to give birth and caring for their young. Though they don't know it, the future is hard for their brood as millions of unwanted cats/kittens/animals are abandoned in the US to die in "shelters" each year. This film is great but please neuter/spay your animals.

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  21. Brilliant. And Randy? What a great guy!!
    We all need to be more like Randy.

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  22. Charlie Chaplin of cat movies. Even more scared of cats, then I all ready was.

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  23. "I was hoping it was going to be longer!"

    I was hoping that is was going to be longer too (funny how that phrase haunts me).

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  24. Brilliant documentary, I was hoping it was going to be longer!

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  25. Very moving little film and a great departure from the usual heavy hitting media. From the looks of things this film was made back in the late 40's or early 50's. Does anybody know for sure? I've already sent it to dozens. Thanks, Karl

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